First farmers market of the season finds a hardy crowd despite wet conditions

Photos by Greg FarrarSiddharth Bhatia, of Issaquah, holds daughter Saisha, 3, on his back as they wait for a food order from the Simply Mediterranean vendor April 19 during the Issaquah Farmers Market season premiere at Pickering Farm.

The 2014 Issaquah Farmers Market season got off to a wet start April 18.

The rain, which fell just before noon, did little to keep the usual Pickering Farm crowds from the host of vendors, exhibitors, farmers and demonstrations. It was the first day of this season’s market, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday through Oct. 11, rain or shine.

Local mom Regan Wong found a nifty way to repurpose the contents of that long forgotten box, tucked away in a closet, filled to the brim with broken, sometimes wrapperless crayons.

The vibrant coloring tools undoubtedly lived a life of usefulness at one point, but rather than letting them sit on a shelf reminiscing about the good old days of elementary school, or letting them rot in a landfill, Wong is turning them in to something environmentally friendly and beautiful.

Wacky Crayons takes used crayons, melts them down and, using food-grade molds, crafts new, multicolored drawing tools in various shapes and sizes.

Mike and Leah Wong, children of Wacky Crayons creator Regan Wong, lend a helping hand as they make the unconventional drawing tool in the family’s garage.Photo contributed

“We didn’t invent this, but we’re sort of perfecting it along the way,” Wong said.

My plants talk to me, and I always answer — sometimes in no uncertain terms. I was telling them the other day, “You guys have it made. You haven’t a clue what plants are dealing with in other parts of the country.”

This summer and last winter have been really conducive to plant growth here. We had a warmer than usual winter, extra heat this summer with higher than normal humidity, and a longer than normal growing season. With a little extra water from the hose, it’s a jungle out there. Hot summer days started the first of June rather than July 5 this year, and as of this writing, the weather is continuing to delight.

The popularity of farmers markets continues to increase across the Evergreen State.

Shoppers made almost 1.8 million trips — including many repeat visits — to experience Washington’s 160 farmers markets.

Gov. Chris Gregoire joined the state Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Farmers Market Association to celebrate Farmers Market Week from Aug. 5-11.

“Washington’s farmers produce some of the best agricultural products around the world,” Gregoire said in a statement. “From our world-famous apples to our varied field greens, the goods produced in our state are second to none. And those who live here have easy access to these quality foods.”

By Greg FarrarAlec Sharon, then 5, with mom Jill and dad Tod, don clown noses to pose with J.P. Patches for a family photo Nov. 7, 2008, during a celebration at Front Street Market. Tod lived in Mirrormont and watched the legendary Northwest clown on TV when he was his son’s age. By Greg Farrar

Before the Salmon Days Festival turned into a Pacific Northwest icon, organizers turned to a bona fide Pacific Northwest icon in 1970 to lead a parade at the celebration.

The clown J.P. Patches, a mainstay of after-school TV for generations of Seattle-area children, and sidekick Gertrude marched in the initial Salmon Days parade before a 15,000-member crowd.

Chris Wedes, a.k.a. Julius Pierpont Patches, died July 22 after a long battle against multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.

Dressed in a tattered hat and patchwork coat, J.P. Patches resided in a landfill, cavorted alongside the mop-headed Gertrude — played by ex-Marine Bob Newman in lipstick and a Raggedy Ann wig — and introduced TV audiences to a colorful cast of characters as a host on KIRO.

Alec Sharon, then 5, with mom Jill and dad Tod, don clown noses to pose with J.P. Patches for a family photo Nov. 7, 2008, during a celebration at Front Street Market. Tod lived in Mirrormont and watched the legendary Northwest clown on TV when he was his son’s age. By Greg Farrar

NEW — 11:30 a.m. July 23, 2012

Before the Salmon Days Festival turned into a Pacific Northwest icon, organizers turned to a bona fide Pacific Northwest icon to lead a parade at the celebration.